Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. today announced it has succeeded in developing Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals. This technology is based on OKI’s original iris recognition algorithm using standard optical cameras that are equipped in mobile terminals. OKI plans to commercialize this product worldwide starting March 2007. As mobile terminals become more sophisticated, new services such as payments by mobile phone and enterprise information management are becoming commonly used. Users and equipment manufacturers have been drawing attention to the incorporation of personal authentication in such equipment to prevent misuse when the terminals are lost or stolen. While biometric authentication has attracted users and manufacturers, iris recognition is an authentication technology using the iris pattern in the eye. This iris pattern is complex and random, which makes it difficult to find a recognizable rule. Thus, it provides authentication with high accuracy. OKI has been providing its iris recognition technology-based equipment to government agencies, financial institutions and other enterprises in Japan and overseas. While these devices require a dedicated infrared camera, the new Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals can use a standard camera that is embedded in a mobile terminal, because of the original algorithm OKI has developed.
This technology is embodied in a compact program for easy embedding, so it can authenticate the iris in a sufficient speed even when using the limited processing capacity of a mobile terminal. Thus it contributes to enabling smaller iris recognition equipment. OKI will exhibit this Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals at the ITU Telecom World 2006, which will be held at Hong Kong from December 4th to 8th.
